Lowfat recipes for heart health

A healthy, hearty meal: Feast on burgers, cheesecake and more, worry-free. Each delicious dish is low in fat and designed to protect your arteries (and waistline!) for life.

My love of good food has resulted in many memorable meals. It has nourished me, cheered me, even led me to a rewarding career as a cookbook author. But it also nearly killed me. Last fall, a routine checkup revealed an abnormal heartbeat. I felt fine, but testing showed one of my arteries was 85 percent blocked. A stent (a tube that holds artery walls open) prevented a heart attack, but on that day, my life changed forever. My standard buttery and fried meals are now off-limits; for the rest of my life, I must curb fat and eat more fresh foods. I decided to create recipes that were as flavorful as my full-fat favorites and still fit within heart-healthy guidelines (less than 30 percent fat per entrée). With statistics showing that heart disease rates among young women have been rising, now is the time to start eating preventively. Try my recipes to stay well and be slim. —Georgia Downard